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Hamstring still swollen, but Cuddyer says no DL

8/17/14: Michael Cuddyer goes 4-for-5 with three RBIs while hitting for the second cycle of his career to pace the Rockies in a 10-5 win

By Cody Ulm
/
MLB.com |

DENVER -- Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer had hoped to return Friday against the Marlins. One glimpse at the bruising and swelling that remained in his left hamstring drained that hope.

Yet that didn't stop him from writing his own headline.

"I'm not going on the [disabled list]," Cuddyer said. "You can put that in bold letters."

Still, Cuddyer was out of the lineup for the third straight game Friday after making his return from a fractured left shoulder last Sunday. And he doesn't expect to return until this Sunday at the earliest.

Manager Walt Weiss confirmed as much by saying "he'll probably still need another day or two."

"There's still some swelling in there," Weiss said. "Any time you have a bleed out in your hamstring, it's a considerable injury."

So considerable, in fact, that the Rockies pulled the free agent to be off revocable waivers after placing him there Sunday.

Following a 60-day absence due to his shoulder injury, Cuddyer took 10 at-bats in Sunday's doubleheader sweep of the Reds, hitting for the second cycle of his career in Game 2. On Wednesday, Weiss said he'd like to see Cuddyer tone his intensity down a notch and instead run with a more controlled stride.

Cuddyer, 35, agreed with Weiss' assessment, but said it wouldn't be easy.

"It will be somewhat difficult, but I think we'll get to the point where I don't have to shut it down too much," Cuddyer said.

While Cuddyer has seen progress with his hamstring, he also admitted it's still pretty ugly looking.